The UK and the US have joined forces at the Cop29 UN climate conference to speed up the deployment of cutting-edge nuclear technology to help decarbonise industry and boost energy security – while also cutting Russia out of a forum aimed to foster development of Generation IV nuclear plants.

UK energy secretary Ed Miliband and US deputy secretary of energy David Turk signed on 18 November a new agreement while in Baku, Azerbaijan, for climate talks that will help pool together billions of pounds worth of nuclear research and development – including the world’s leading academic institutions and nuclear innovators.

The UK said it will take a leading role in the new forum, which aims to support information-sharing on advanced nuclear technologies and make them available for use in industry by 2030.

The UK government said in a statement that as part of the agreement, the Generation IV International Forum (GIF) will no longer include Russia – ensuring future collaborations “remain among mutually willing parties who respect nuclear safety norms”.